Certificates of Sponsorship and Rule Change Deadlines

What a certificate of sponsorship is

A certificate of sponsorship is an electronic record assigned by a licensed sponsor for a specific worker and role. It is not a visa, and it does not by itself give any permission to work.

Why the assignment date matters

Where transitional arrangements accompany a rule change, they are usually tied to the date a certificate was assigned or the date an application was made. Confirm which date governs before relying on the older requirements.

What employers should check first

That the licence is in place and unrestricted, that the role and occupation code are correct, that the salary meets the applicable threshold, and that any recruitment or record-keeping requirements have been satisfied and documented.

Common causes of delay

An incomplete sponsor management record, an allocation of certificates that has run out, or an internal approval step that has not been built into the timetable.

Where a solicitor helps

A solicitor advises on which requirements apply on the relevant dates, reviews the proposed assignment, and advises the worker on the application that follows. Home Office allocation decisions and processing are outside our control.